Abstract
The conservation status of the Posidonia oceanica meadow at Santa Marinella (Rome) was evaluated through both standard (bed density, leaf biometry, "A" coefficient, Leaf Area Index, rhizome production) and biochemical/genetic approaches (total phenol content and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA marker). The bio-chemical/genetic results are in agreement with those obtained by standard approaches. The bed under study was ranked as a disturbed one, due to its low density, and high heterogeneity in leaf biometry, LAI values, "A" coefficient and primary production. This low quality ranking is confirmed by both mean phenol content in plants, quite high and scattered, and by the low genetic variability in the meadow, with a very high similarity of specimen at a local scale. Hence, these two putative approaches clearly identify the endangered conservation status of the meadow. They link plant biodiversity and ecophysiology to ecosystem 'health'. Furthermore, they are repeatable and standardizable and could be usefully introduced in meadows monitoring to check environmental quality.
Highlights
Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile (PO) is the dominant endemic seagrass in the Mediterranean Sea, where it forms meadows which play a crucial role in coastal ecosystem dynamics
The aim of this study is to describe the conservation status of a specific meadow by comparing the results of phenol content and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) to the standard ones
The absolute density throughout the Santa Marinella meadow is reported in Figure 2A and Supplemental Data; the mean value for the meadow is 342.8 leaves shoots/m2
Summary
Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile (PO) is the dominant endemic seagrass in the Mediterranean Sea, where it forms meadows which play a crucial role in coastal ecosystem dynamics. They produce high amount of oxygen and organic compounds, sustain food nets, and act as a nursery/refuge for several species. They preserve coastal systems trapping sediments into the matte and reducing hydrodynamics [1]. The identification of approaches providing early and ecologically relevant information, useful for policy and management, is still a critical issue
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